Just had a strange offer for my auction. How do I handle this one?

[scottlmusic]

I just had an auction end and no bidders.  I relisted it and have had a couple of offers in messages.  The one that has me concerned is the following.  They just joined ebay on the day my auction ended and started the new one so they have 0 feedback.  Here is the message:

"With due respect i'm offering you $700.00 for the xxxxxx because i won't be able to wait until the auction end due to the nature of my work am always very busy to check my eBay inbox but you can text me #xxxxxxxxx saying offer accepted to ease up the transaction. Thanks"

I suspect it is a scam.  But on the other hand I'm considering telling him to bid like everyone else.  Then again I've considered blocking him but am concerned he may be a legit buyer.

I've also thought about calling ebay and discussing this. 

What do you think about this?  What should I do?

Thanx

[scottlmusic]

my concern is that if I allow him to bid he may be a nonpayer in that his email sounds fishy.  On the other hand, I could block him but there is nothing to prevent him from opening a new account an d bidding.  See my point?

[coolections]

Set you selling requirements to not allow non paying bidders.

[scottlmusic]

that sounds like a good idea.  I will have to look and see where I can do that.  But, on the other hand, the guy inquestion just signed up yesterday and there is no record of him being a non payer.

[southernfriedbelle]

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@scottlmusic wrote:
Yes, thanks, I did open and close a case. I had to do that in order to properly relist.

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Regardless of the confusion, what @*help_no_brakes* wrote initially is solid advice. I would be extremely wary of a brand new buyer ID messaging about arranging to "buy" a high value electronic item outside of the parameters of your listing format.

If you were to agree to his "offer," his next move would be to send you a fake email from eBay, PayPal, or both that would appear legitimate, informing that you'd been paid. He's hoping you're unsophisticated and naive enough to accept those at face value, without verifying that payment has actually been received by checking your seller page and PayPal. He'll be in a hurry for you to ship immediately, and there you go.

Wham. Bam. You've been scammed.

Tell him thanks for his interest, but he's free to bid his max and wait until the auction ends to see if he's the winner. Then block him.

As @*help_no_brakes* stated, this IS a scam, and one we see often on these boards.

[*help_no_brakes*]

Take a quick peek at Help & Contact...type in Buyer Requirements....wealth of information there.

You can only block those with 2 or more Unpaid Strikes.

This will not help with your current would be bidder who can't check his In Box (because he is so busy with work) but want's to do a deal via phone (not too busy to do that) so that he can then ask for your PayPal email addy & send a fake PayPal email stating that you have been paid & to ship the item.

[scottlmusic]

Thank you, that's pretty much what I figured when I first saw his email,  just trying to cover all angles.

[*help_no_brakes*]

@southernfriedbelle

[scottlmusic]

Yes, thanks, thing is I could block this guy and he can turn right around and open a new account, put in the highest bid and then not pay.  

Question, if something like that happens, isn't there a way that the next highest bidder could then win.  I would hate to have to relist yet another time if something like this takes place.

[tdumonde2014]

This person is trying to scam you and if you don't fall for it, they will likely move on to their next target. 

[*help_no_brakes*]

" isn't there a way that the next highest bidder could then win."

Only if you offer the item to them via the Second Chance Offer feature.

I still think that you should decide how much you want for this item & list as BIN with Immediate Payment Required.

That will at least mean that you are paid.

As a new seller you are a scam magnet & a bidder not not paying is the least of your problems.

Search the boards for threads about new sellers being scammed or dealing with multiple scam attempts on high value ITEMS...including False SNADS.

[*help_no_brakes*]

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@tdumonde2014 wrote:

This person is trying to scam you and if you don't fall for it, they will likely move on to their next target. 

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Or another one will take their turn on this item.

[retrose1]

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@southernfriedbelle wrote:

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@scottlmusic wrote:
Yes, thanks, I did open and close a case. I had to do that in order to properly relist.

---

Regardless of the confusion, what @*help_no_brakes* wrote initially is solid advice. I would be extremely wary of a brand new buyer ID messaging about arranging to "buy" a high value electronic item outside of the parameters of your listing format.

If you were to agree to his "offer," his next move would be to send you a fake email from eBay, PayPal, or both that would appear legitimate, informing that you'd been paid. He's hoping you're unsophisticated and naive enough to accept those at face value, without verifying that payment has actually been received by checking your seller page and PayPal. He'll be in a hurry for you to ship immediately, and there you go.

Wham. Bam. You've been scammed.

Tell him thanks for his interest, but he's free to bid his max and wait until the auction ends to see if he's the winner. Then block him.

As @*help_no_brakes* stated, this IS a scam, and one we see often on these boards.

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belle is absolutely correct.  This is a scam and that will be the way it will go.

OR since the buyer with a new id is asking for you to contact them off ebay in their message, they could want to do an off ebay transaction - which is totally against ebay policy, you can report them.  The link is not that descriptive but if you check the 4th line down there is the report link,,,,,,http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/rfe-spam-non-ebay-sale.html

Block the buyer, you do not want them coming back causing trouble and you can have ebay check to see if a new buyer causing you problems is linked to a blocked one and have them booted off ebay.

I got to say it.  This is a 5 feedback id that is listing a $600 item.  Dude, you and your item is like chum in shark infested waters.  Scammy buyers look for low feedback sellers listing high dollar items in order to scam them.  Because the newbies do not know ebay policies and how they work or don't work for a seller and they make mistakes that will cost them the item and money.

I advise that no new seller list anything worth more than $35 on ebay.  That will give a seller a chance to build feedback and learn about scams and how ebay protects a seller from them ( the answer is, they don't ).  That you should only list high dollar when you have as much selling feedback as the dollar value of the item.  That way you won't be losing your high dollar tems on your first few transactions.

OP should be asking themselves questions like......Do I know what to do if after the buyer gets the ite claims that it doesn't work, or was broke in shipping, or isn't what they bought, files a not described case against you, OR and I think that the odds are good this will happen...if the buyer wants to return the item and you have no returns.  That one usually gets the buyer a freebie as most new sellers do not understand that no returns does not mean no refunds and make the most mistakes.

I have thousands of feedbacks and know how ebay works and would never list the item you have for sale on ebay.  Just my opinion.

[*help_no_brakes*]

"OP should be asking themselves questions like......Do I know what to do if after the buyer gets the ite claims that it doesn't work, or was broke in shipping, or isn't what they bought, files a not described case against you, OR and I think that the odds are good this will happen...if the buyer wants to return the item and you have no returns.  That one usually gets the buyer a freebie as most new sellers do not understand that no returns does not mean no refunds and make the most mistakes."

I restrained myself & did not mention this.

The last time I did it was suggested that I was discouraging new sellers from selling on eBay.

Thank you for mentioing this.

[getitright1234]

@scottlmusic wrote:

I just had an auction end and no bidders.  I relisted it and have had a couple of offers in messages.  The one that has me concerned is the following.  They just joined ebay on the day my auction ended and started the new one so they have 0 feedback.  Here is the message:

"With due respect i'm offering you $700.00 for the xxxxxx because i won't be able to wait until the auction end due to the nature of my work am always very busy to check my eBay inbox but you can text me #xxxxxxxxx saying offer accepted to ease up the transaction. Thanks"

I suspect it is a scam.  But on the other hand I'm considering telling him to bid like everyone else.  Then again I've considered blocking him but am concerned he may be a legit buyer.

I've also thought about calling ebay and discussing this. 

What do you think about this?  What should I do?

Thanx

---

Asking you to text him is " communication outside eBay" and this is a red flag.  Do "Not" take this buyer seriously; this request alone, is a violation of the eBay policy.    You now have an opportuity to dodge a bullet.   I would block "this buyer" and do the happy dance!  

@scottlmusic wrote:

I just had an auction end and no bidders.  I relisted it and have had a couple of offers in messages.  The one that has me concerned is the following.  They just joined ebay on the day my auction ended and started the new one so they have 0 feedback.  Here is the message:

"With due respect i'm offering you $700.00 for the xxxxxx because i won't be able to wait until the auction end due to the nature of my work am always very busy to check my eBay inbox but you can text me #xxxxxxxxx saying offer accepted to ease up the transaction. Thanks"

I suspect it is a scam.  But on the other hand I'm considering telling him to bid like everyone else.  Then again I've considered blocking him but am concerned he may be a legit buyer.

I've also thought about calling ebay and discussing this. 

What do you think about this?  What should I do?

Thanx

---

The buyer asking you to text him is " communication outside eBay; a red flag for you to "Not" take this buyer seriously; this request alone, is a violation of the eBay policy.    I would block "this buyer"  and do then do the happy dance!  You now have an opportuity to dodge a bullet.   

[retrose1]

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@*help_no_brakes* wrote:

"OP should be asking themselves questions like......Do I know what to do if after the buyer gets the ite claims that it doesn't work, or was broke in shipping, or isn't what they bought, files a not described case against you, OR and I think that the odds are good this will happen...if the buyer wants to return the item and you have no returns.  That one usually gets the buyer a freebie as most new sellers do not understand that no returns does not mean no refunds and make the most mistakes."

I restrained myself & did not mention this.

The last time I did it was suggested that I was discouraging new sellers from selling on eBay.

Thank you for mentioing this.

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My advice to not list a high dollar item until you have as much recent selling feedback as the dollar value of the item covers that.  It is advising that sellers sell more on ebay, while giving the seller a warning they should think about.

I equate a new seller listing their most valuable items first on ebay as the same as voluntarily jumping into the ocean, miles from shore, with fresh cuts on their body and not knowing how to swim.